What do Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin, Michael Moore, and photographer Mick Rock have in common? Apparently they're fellow REM fans, because they all turned out to toast Michael Stipe and the Food Bank of New York City on Tuesday night, helping to raise over $650,000. The singer, along with the president of the Food Network, Brooke Johnson, was honored for his contributions to the hunger relief charity at its fourth annual gala, held at Chelsea Piers. Superchef Mario Batali presented Stipe with the "Can Do" award, calling him "my best friend and hero." Fellow revelers Jimmy Fallon, Nathan Jenden, Mike D., and Tamara Davis were later treated to a special performance by Stipe's tablemate Patti Smith, who sang the guest of honor's favorite song, "Because the Night." After dinner, Helena Christensen learned her way around the turntables—deejaying being the latest skill the multi-tasking model, photographer, and Butik owner is looking to add to her résumé. And then it was on to the event's unofficial after-party at the West Village gastropub, The Spotted Pig.

Wednesday belonged to Oscar de la Renta. To celebrate their 35 years in business together, Bergdorf Goodman filled its Fifth Avenue windows with the designer's dresses, while inside the store, Eleanor Ylvisaker, Claire Bernard, and Tinsley Mortimer flaunted their own ODLRs. To reinforce the evening's cha cha theme, the first floor was transformed into a Latin dance hall, with red drapery covering the walls and a 13-piece band headed by Grammy Award-winning merengue artist Milly Quezada on the stage. Pierre Dulaine, the dance teacher who inspired the Antonio Banderas film, Take the Lead, led his young charges from P.S. 98 in an impressive salsa number. Afterwards, the man of the hour was joined on the dance floor by his children Eliza Reed Bolen and Moises de la Renta, as well as Bergdorf Goodman's Burt Tansky and Roopal Patel. "You know, Oscar has a CD," said his son-in-law (and company CEO) Alex Bolen. "He's very good friends with Julio Iglesias, so they sat in a studio and Oscar sang and Julio produced it. But it's not for sale."

That same evening, in Los Angeles, Nina Ricci sponsored a "Fabulous Frocks Divine Dinner" benefiting The Rape Foundation at Barneys New York's Beverly Hills store—and the dresses lived up to their billing. Hostess Kate Beckinsale chose a floor-sweeping plum number by Ricci designer Lars Nilsson. Angie Harmon wore slate blue hammered silk, and Bryce Dallas Howard went with a dramatic navy-edged black. Barneys creative director Simon Doonan led the live auction, urging guests who were dining on Wolfgang Puck's signature fare to "shut your gobs and open your handbags." Prizes included Martin Katz diamonds, a trip to Paris to see the Nina Ricci Spring 2007 collection, and a stunning Ricci dress. "Four hundred nuns went blind weaving this chiffon and now there's a worldwide shortage," quipped Doonan. Though there was unexpected rain, Nilsson wasn't disappointed by his first visit to the City of Angels: "I love the style here because women dress up, but in a relaxed way." The Paris-based designer himself opted for dark blue jeans with rolled-up cuffs. Welcome to L.A.

—Sarah Cristobal (Food Bank and Oscar de la Renta) and Victoria Namkung (Nina Ricci)